Millennial Burn Out Sparks Commentator Reaction

Larissa Faw
, ContributorI write about millennials, workplace trends and career mavericks.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Earlier this week I wrote a blog post on today’s Millennial women who are tired of pretending to “have it all.” They excelled In everything throughout their childhood, are making significant progress climbing the corporate ladder, but now find themselves questioning their careers, relationships and wondering, Is this what life is really like?

And while these women have typically suffered in silence, under the belief they are the only one who feels this way, it turns out they aren’t alone. This is evident by the over 200,000 views, 12K+Facebook shares and tweets and nearly a hundred reactions and remarks left by Forbes commentators:

“As a 30-something career woman, this article actually made me stop and take a moment to really dive into the comments and hear what others are saying and experiencing. However, I do think that the population as a whole is reaching a critical point of work/life/spirituality balance that cannot be overlooked as the future unfolds.” — elliottkj

“Sent this to my millennial gf who is a high school teacher she replied with “The author has been stalking me, apparently. Spooky how accurate this is for my life.” tedsbardella

“You really captured how I feel about my career. I went to college and law school with the intent of becoming a lawyer. I had never had a full time job until I graduated and I was truly shocked when I realized I had to go to work EVERY DAY ALL DAY! I had no idea what kind of lawyer I wanted to be nor that I even needed a career path once I got my first job.” Felicia Ford

“It was reassuring (I’m not the only one!), yet also a bit unfortunate, to hear so many working females feel this way.” Arianna Rubinstein.

While the article may have resonated with several readers, it also brought out a larger discussion over what’s causing this burn out, whether this mindset is specific to Millennial women, and possible remedies.

Commentators were widely diverse in justifying why these women are burning out. Some attribute it to the high expectations placed on them by their parents, unrealistic expectations brought on by an entitled generation, and general culture shifts. Others have less sympathy, describing these women as whiners.

“Media messages and the transformation of universities into places that encouraged young women to dream big, have created a cohort of young women who have grown up expecting to make a mark in their workplace.” barbaraallen1

“Women tend to take competition personally and oftentimes hold a grudge or seek revenge, whereas men can shrug off a competitive loss and are raised to be ‘tough’ and ‘aggressive.’ I remember being ‘taught’ by my mother to adopt a submissive posture when sitting, always let the man ‘win,’ and to not be outspoken or boisterous. My brothers were taught the contrary.” Dixintex

Commentators also offered solutions to end burn out. Some of the more frequently given advice includes patience, seeking mentors, and support from friends and family members. Others recommend women take on additional training or education classes, ask for additional responsibilities, or network. There were also several calls advocating entrepreneurship:

“Corporate America is hideously stressful and in some cases, it’s not for everyone. Millennial women may find that the best option may not be within their familiar culture and ultimately overseas where the values and job structure can be easier to adapt to than forcing yourself to gun it on a daily basis.” Deborah Sweeney

“Ultimately, smart women do not allow themselves to get taken advantage of by companies that treat them unfairly from the start. The truly bright ones start their own businesses.” Xhereafternow

One question that remains unanswered is whether these women can actually find happiness, or whether they will continue to have unrealistic expectations. It would also be interesting to hear from women who experienced burnout, how they specifically reversed their circumstances, and how long it took.